The world of children’s literature has recently started responding in a more authentic way to the desperate need for diversity in children’s books.
Whether you are looking for books that reflect a diversity of ethnicity, culture, religion, experience, family structure, social circumstances, sexual/gender orientation, physical disability, authorship, etc., there are more options than ever before. There are also new resources to help you in your search for such books, as a teacher, librarian, or parent.
Here are two great resources:
The Diverse Book Finder: A collaboration between Bates College Associate Professor Dr. Krista Aronson, children’s book author Anne Sibley O’Brien, and a team of associates, the Diverse Book Finder is a searchable database of picture books, combined with a physical collection for circulation at The Ladd Library, Bates College, Maine.
Multicultural Book Day, founded by reading advocates Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen, is a national online event that began in 2014 to highlight diversity in children’s books. MBD has gone on to being one of the top trending movements on Twitter (#ReadYourWorld), and expanded to supporting libraries and schools with books, resources, and tools. The website features a number of lists of diverse books and accompanying activities to promote diverse children’s literature.
If you have other resources to highlight, please send them along and I will check them out, as I would love to keep adding to this list.
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